Kawhi Leonard scores 55 as Clippers beat Pistons in Los Angeles

Close to a franchise record, Kawhi Leonard chose to deliberation astir the adjacent crippled instead.

Leonard’s 55 powers Clippers’ streak

Leonard poured successful a career-high 55 points Sunday arsenic the LA Clippers bushed the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons 112-99. The triumph extended the Clippers’ season-best streak to 4 straight, with Leonard’s caller surge astatine the halfway of it.

Coach Tyronn Lue told Leonard during the crippled that helium was approaching the franchise grounds for points successful a azygous game. Leonard inactive kept his fourth-quarter workload light, playing lone six minutes successful the play and checking retired with conscionable nether a infinitesimal left. He finished tied with teammate James Harden for the franchise mark.

“Like I told [Lue], I would alternatively play different crippled than spell retired determination and hazard it,” Leonard said. “Hopefully, we tin get different triumph and beryllium successful the aforesaid situation. It is what it is.”

Harden’s absorption and Leonard’s wellness shift

Harden joked afterward that Leonard took agelong capable to get a 50-point night, portion besides shouting “double nickels” successful the locker room. Harden, who has shared the spotlight with Leonard this season, praised however it looked successful existent time.

“It was a beauteous happening to spot however efficient, however effortless it was,” Harden said. “It was conscionable truthful smooth. He got to immoderate spot helium wanted to and erstwhile you get to that spot it’s not adjacent astir the defender. It’s astir him making the shot.

“Overly blessed for him due to the fact that down the scenes you ticker idiosyncratic and however hard they work. ... For him, what helium had to conflict done conscionable to spell retired determination and beryllium himself was a beauteous happening to see.”

Leonard, slowed by genu injuries successful caller years, missed 10 games earlier this play due to the fact that of ankle and ft issues. He has started pushing his minutes again, reaching 40 successful a triumph implicit the Lakers past week and doing it again Friday.

Against Detroit, helium went 17-of-26 from the tract and 16-of-17 astatine the enactment successful 39 minutes. “He’s yet getting steadfast and yet being capable to play capable minutes to beryllium precise effective,” Lue said.